Drawer construction



Feb. 7, 1950 J. v. NlELsEN DRAWER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1946 NM, QN... NMX QM.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. V. NIELSEN DRAWER CONSTRUCTION Feb. 7, 1950 Filed April 5. 1946 .m m m A Patented Feb. 7, 1950 .lohn V. Nielsen,

Illinois Chicago, Ill., assignor to Poster Products, Inc., Chicago, Ill.,

a `corperation. of

Application April 5, 1946; Serial No. 659,925

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a drawer construction for use in lsales tables, desks, ling cabinets, kitchen cabinets and other similar ar tcles, and in particular to a new and improved drawer construction which not only embodies a self-closing feature, but also a self-opening feature to obviate the necessity of having handles on the drawer.

Due to the increasing popularity of so`called modern streamlined furniture, it has become desirable to do away with as milch as possible of the extraneous hardware, such as handles and drawer pulls, on tables and cabinets.

One type of structure which has been suggested and tried to enable drawers to be Iopened without the use of handles is the provision of suitable recesses .at the upper and lower edge of the outer panel on such drawers which may be grasped to open the drawer.

The self-closing feature of my invention overcomes the objections in the majority of present day drawers in that they can not be partially open, but when closed to a predetermined partially open position, will automatically close.

Itis, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to provide a drawer construction which may be opened easilyT without the use of handles or drawer pulls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawer construction which will permit the drawer to be pushed inwardly from its normally closed position a short vdistance and have a device which will then impart a forward movement to the drawer after the rearward force thereon has been removed, so that the top edge of the drawer can be grasped to thereby open it completely.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drawer structure wherein rollers sullpoitirlg the drawer will ride upwardly on tracks when the drawer is moved rearwardly from its closed position and which will then impart a forward movement thereto to permit the drawer to move out-A wardly by reason of the rollers riding down the inclined portions, to thereby partially open the drawer so that the upper edge thereof can be grasped.

A still .further object is to provide a drawer having a self-closing feature where rollers supporting the drawer will ride downwardly .on in clined portions ot tracks when the drawer is being closed. combined with upwardly curved portions on which the rollers may ride when it is desired to open the drawer.

`-Still another object is to provide a drawer construction wherein a progressive slide is inter` posed between the tracks on which the rollers ride and the drawer guide which supports the rollers on the drawer in combination with the self-closing feature thereof..

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in conjunction `with the accompanying drawings in which:

1 is a perspective view of a typical cabinet wherein the drawer construction of my invention may be used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the kconstruction of the drawer with its supporting tracks and slides at one side of the cabinet wherein the drawer is in its completely open position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the drawer in a partially open position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showingr the drawer completely closed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the central lportieri of Fig. 4, showing the posin tion of one of the rollers when the drawer is completely closed;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of line 6--5 of Fig. 2.;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of line 8 8 of Fig. 2, and

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of Fig. 4.

The manner in which I attain the self-closing feature of my invention may be briefly described by stating that I provide a track at each side of the drawer and secured to the cabinet, wherein one or more rearwardly inclined portions are present on which the rollers attached to the progressive slide may ride to automatically close the drawer `frrm'l a partially open position. For the self-.opening feature. the preferred embodiment of my invention includes a rearwardly and upwardly curved portion at the end of each inclined portion. The drawer is so constructed with respect to the cabinet that it can be moved rearwardly a short distance upon exerting a force against the front panel thereon, to move the rollers up to the top of the curved portion. When this :torce is removed, the rollers will ride down the curved portion with su'icent momentum to partially open the drawer and enable a person to grasp the upper edge of the front panel to thereby pull the drawer open farther At the front end of the drawer I provide similar but reversely positioned inclined and curved lportions in the drawer guide to maintain the drawer substantially horizontal as it is moved from a completely open to a completely closed position.

It will be understood that it is not necessary to include both the self-closing and self-opening features in the same construction. Either may be used separately if so desired, or they may be combined.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the cabinet, which may take any desired form, and .may be adapted to receive any number oi drawers either horizontally or vertically, is provided with the usual sides 2, top 4 and back 6. The iront panel of eachdrawer is indicated by the numeral 8. At each sideoi the drawer it is provided with a drawer guide, generally indicated at lil, and which is provided with a horizontal portion l2 secured to the under side of the drawer, a vertical portion I4 extending upwardly along the side of the drawer, a horizontal flange I6 extending outwardly toward the cabinet, and terminating in an upturned portion l? (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8). As may be clearly seen in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9, the forward end of the flange i6 is forwardly and upwardly inclined as at 20, and has a downwardly curved end 22.

On the inside of the cabinet and at each side of the drawer, I provide a track in the form of a channel member having a web 24, an' upper ange 26 and alower flange 23, the anges being turned inwardly toward the drawer. Intermediate the ends of each track, I provide one or more rearwardly and downwardly inclined portions 30, each of which terminates in an upwardly curved portion 32.

I also provide a progressive slide which is located between the track and the drawer guide which has a channel portion including a web 34 and upper and lower inturned anges 36 and 33. The lower ilange 38 has a vertically extending portion lil thereon, and terminates in an inwardly extending ange 42. One or more strengthening and steadying plates 44 may be used and secured at each end to the progressive slides to insure even movement thereof when the drawer is being opened or closed. l

I have stated above that one or more of the inclined portions 3U and 32 on the track may be used. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the invention I have shown two such portions on each track. Accordingly, I provide plurality of rollers 46 equal in number to the inclined portions 3e and 32 which are rotatably mounted on the vertical portion 4D of the progressive slide. These rollers are so positioned along the length of the slide as to rest at the bottom of the inclined portions 30 when the drawer is completely closed.

Another roller 48 is also pivotally mounted on the track near the front endv thereof and is in a suitable location so that theforward end of the inclined portion 2G will rest on 'the upper side oi the roller when the drawer is fully closed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9.

An intermediate guide roller 50 is rotatably secured to the upper side of the' web 34 of the track by means of a suitable bracket i, and is adapted to ride on the horizontal ange I6 of the drawer guide as the drawer is opened and closed. A second guide roller 52 is mounted at the rear end of the progressive slide in a suitable bracket 54. This roller also rides on the drawer guide and steadies the drawer as it is being moved. r

As will be clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 9 the upper edge of the vertical portion I8 on the drawer guide is recessed as at 56 to provide a vertical stop member 58. The forward end of the progressive slide has a detent 6U in the form of an L-shaped arm which is pivotally mounted thereon and has a lower edge 62 which rides on the'upper edge of the drawer guide and into the recess 56 against the stop member when the drawer is in its fully open position. This prevents the drawer from being pulled outwardly too far inadvertently, but a rotation of the detent 6U, so that the end 62 thereof will be moved out of the path of the stop 58, will permit the drawer to be completely removed from the cabinet.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that in Fig. 2 the drawer is completely open. Rearward movement of the drawer will move the progressive slide rearwardly at a speed and distance about half of that of the drawer, the rollers 46 riding on the track 28. When the drawer is almost closed and the rollers 46 reach the beginning of the inclined portions 3B, they will continue down the incline and thus move the drawer to its closed position automatically without any further eiort. At the same time the roller 48, having the drawer guide riding thereon, will also aid in closing the drawer by means oi the inclined portion 20 thereon. At this point the various rollers will be in position as shown in Figs. 4 and 9.

As will be seen in Figs. 4 and 9, there will be a space provided between the rear end of the drawer and the back of the cabinet when the drawer is in fully closed position, thus permitting a further rearward movement of the drawer if desired. To open the drawer a rearward force will be exerted on the front panel 8 thereof which will move the rollers 46 upwardly on the curved portions 32. The curved portion 22 on the drawer guide will also ride over the top of roller 48. When this rearward force is removed the rollers 46 will ride downwardly on the curved portion 32 with sulcient momentum to move them along a short distance of the inclined portions 30. A similar action will take place with respect to the roller 48, and the drawer, having this forward movement thus imparted thereto, will be opened a sucient distance so that one can grasp the upper edge of the panel 8, and pull open the drawer the remaining distance.

If desired, small springs or rubber bumpers may be provided at the rear of the cabinet to assist in the forward opening movement of the drawer. While these aids may be desirable, I have notfound them to bev a necessity for the successful operation and carrying out of my in vention.

It will be clear that modifications in the illustrated form of the invention can be made without in any way departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the number of rollers and the number of inclined and curved portions may be varied to suit specific conditions. Also in some instances it may be desirable to change the angle of inclination of the portions 3U, or the length thereof, or'the specific arc of the curved portions 32. may occur to those skilled in the art, and may be embodied in actual structures, but still retaining the principle of operation and the intended function of my invention.

Having' thus described my invention what I These and other mechanical changes claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, a track mounted on the cabinet at each side of said drawer, rollers adapted to carry said drawer and ride on said track, and means on said tracks adapted to cooperate with said rollers to impart an initial forward movement to said drawer after rst being moved rearwardly from a normally closed position.

2. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening and movable to open and closed positions, support means for` the drawer, means to automatically close said drawer from a predetermined partially open position, and means to impart an initial opening movement thereto after first being moved rearwardly from a normally closed position.

3. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, a progressive slide at each side of said drawer, rollers mounted on said slide adapted to carry said drawer thereon, a track at each side of said drawer and mounted on said cabinet on which said rollers ride, and means on said track intermediate the ends thereof to impart an initial forward movement to said drawer after rst being moved rearwardly from a normally closed position.

4. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, a progressive slide at each side of said drawer, rollers mounted on said slide adapted to carry said drawer thereon, a track at each side of said drawer and mounted on said cabinet on which said rollers ride, means on said track intermediate the ends thereof to impart an initial forward movement to said drawer after rst being moved rearwardly from a normally closed position, and means on said drawer at the forward end thereof cooperating with said first named means to aid in imparting to said drawer said initial forward movement.

5. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, a track secured to said cabinet at each side of said drawer, rollers mounted to movably support said drawer and adapted to ride on said tracks, and rearwardly and upwardly curved portions on said tracks adjacent one end thereof, whereby said rollers will ride upwardly thereon when a force is exerted to move said drawer rearwardly from a closed position and thereby impart an initial forward movement thereto upon removing said force, the normal position of said rollers on said tracks when the drawer is closed being at the bottom of said upwardly curved portions.

6. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, a track secured to said cabinet at each side of said drawer, rollers mounted to movably support said drawer and adapted to ride on said tracks, and rearwardly and downwardly inclined portions on said tracks intermediate the ends thereof terminating in upwardly curved portions, whereby said drawer will automatically close from a predetermined partially open position and will partially open from a closed position by exerting a force rearwardly on said drawer to move the rollers up said curved portions and then removing said force.

7. In combination with a cabinet having a drawer opening therein, a drawer fitting into said opening, track and roller means located within said opening at each side of said drawer, for movably supporting said drawer within the opening, and means on said tracks adapted to cooperate with said rollers to impart an initial forward movement to said drawer after rst being moved rearwardly from a normally closed position.

JOHN V. NIELSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,560,8877 Watson Nov. 10, 1925 1,849,809 Showers Mar. l5, 1932 1,906,723 Rosendahl May 2, 1933 1,910,208 Gronberg et al May 23, 1933 1,981,246 Pipe Nov. 20, 1934 2,095,487 Bullock et al Oct. 12, 1937 2,328,835 Motter Sept. 7, 1943 

